The difference between "remember" and "remind"

It's easy to mix up "remember" and "remind" since they both deal with memory. The challenge is figuring out who is remembering what — and when to use each verb correctly. Should you say "I remember you" or "I remind you"? If that's all too confusing, don't worry — we're about to clear it up.

Remember

We use "remember" when we bring something back into our own mind — whether it's a past experience, a fact, or something important we don't want to forget. If the memory comes from inside your own head, this is the verb you need.

For example:

"I remember my first day at work like it was yesterday."

"Do you remember where we parked the car?"

"She always remembers our anniversary, even when I forget."

The key thing about "remember" is that it doesn't need an object or another person to make it happen.

For instance:

"I don't remember what time the movie starts."

"He suddenly remembered he had an appointment."

"We remember going to that café when we were kids."

Remind

We use "remind" when something or someone helps us remember. You don't bring the memory back on your own — there's an external prompt, like a person, a note, or an alarm, making sure you don't forget.

For example:

"Could you remind me about the meeting tomorrow?"

"Please remind John to call the clients."

"The alarm is set to remind us of the appointment."

Unlike "remember," "remind" always needs an object — someone who is being reminded.

For instance:

"This song reminds me of our summer vacation."

"She reminded me to bring my passport before we left for the airport."

"Can you remind them that the deadline is next Friday?"

Now that you've got it down, you probably won't mix these up as much anymore. But if you do… well, let's hope someone reminds you.

Because remembering something is easier when you hear it in context — watch our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs and listen for these verbs in context.